San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-24
About Cranks.
NO. 2.

The man or woman, who Is "hobby-
horsical," to use q phrase OF Sterne, that
is, who constantly rides hobby, In the
shape OF a pet theory, Is crank beyond
ali dispute. When you come TO bolt and
sift crank, you discover him to be a
monomaniao, crazy on one subject, but
sane on all others. His pet theory Is n
bed OF Procrustes, to which every thing
must be fitted by curtailment or elonga-
tion, and TO which all political, religious
ana social questions must be subordi-
mated.
The physicians who claim to have dis
covered medicines that will cure all dis
eases, are pronounced cranks, because
common sense teaches us that diseases
arise from radically different causes, and
affect different organs, consequently,
that the self same remedy cannot posi-
by be suited TO all diseases to which
men are subject, in the present life. / Is
possible to discover specific remedy
for a particular disease, that has not
progressed SO far as 10 have destroyed
the recuperative powers of the human
system, but IL Is sheer nonsense TO as
s-rt that any medicine possesses the
properties OF a universal panacea.
Ine medical profession has produced
a host of cranks, who are improperly
stigmatised as quacks. A quack is AN
Ignorant pretender to medical knowl-
edge and skill; whereas the bulk Of those
that put forward nOstrums and panaceas
are regular graduates OF some medical
college, and, generally, well Informed
professionally. Such persons cannot
rightfully be branded as quacks,
although 1t is customary to so brand
them.
Politicians are often the worst sort OF
cranks, since II Is difficult for pOliti-
elan to resist the temptation Of bestrid-
ing hobby in the shape OF a pet theory.
when Ii promises TO lift him into popu-
lar favor and win him a considerable
share of notoriety. Let me illustrate my
meaning. The extr'm advocates OF a
tariff for protection. are cIanks, because
they refuse to look at the subject In all
It's ramified bearings and consider only
one small corner of an extensive and
knOtty subject. The advocates OF free
trade are also cranks, for the reason,
that free trade Is impracticable. Were
an attempt made in the United States to
collect by direct taxation the amount OF
revenue at present annually raised from
customs duties, the people would de-
clare the taxes were oppressive and
would resist the collection of them.
Truth occupies the middle ground be-
tween extremes and, on that account. Is
missed by the crank, who Is impractical
bly, and blindly welded to one tn ory.
IL may safely be affirmed, that men that
are extreme on any subject, are imprac-
ticable, and irratiOnal-in one word, are
downright cranks. they are blindly
welded to their pet theory. and refuse
to consider the subject in its length and
breadth.
Political GRANTS are exceedingly
mischievous, especially, If they be gifted
with fund of sophistry and declama-
ton.
But would you have men to be mere
shutters and trimmPrs, devoid of SIN
cprety and stability? By no means.
Extreme men are always unstable; they
fly from one extreme to its opposite, and
my object Is to guard against extremes.
Conservative thought is the best fOun-
dation for stability Of opinion, because
it steers between extremes and seeks
by a careful induction Of facts and a
wide survey Of subjects, to arrive at the
truth.
Cranks never look at but one side Of
question. If the side OF the medal that
is next TO them b. of silver, they never
look at the other side of 1t. to ascertain
whether IL be of silver or gold, but pro-
nOunce both sides of the medal to be
composed of silver and prepare to wage
war ragainst all that hold d fferent
opinion. Ii is almost impossible TO es-
innate the injury that is done by cranks
or extreme men. Mankind naturally
dislike the labor of patient thought and
careful induction. and are prone to
adopt opinions. ready made, without
inv stipaIing their foundations and the
earnestness and apparent sincerity of
extreme men, or cranks, serve TO i'm
pose their opinions on minds enneryated
by constitutional laZiness, and prepared
to receive seed from the hand of any
sOwer, whether they be wheat or tares.
Impracticability and extremeism are
the car-marks or the crank, the world
over, and the inevitable result OF these
mental traits is an implicit belief in his
personal infallIbility from which comes
a prosecuting spirit and temper.
ToNEY.
The Rapidity of Progress Toward Health